Stopped here while on the job Had a egg white veggie turkey skillet with toast Excellent food Excellent service Excellent atmosphere Thanks guys we will return Just one complaint : they charge a convenience fee for credit card use which as we all know started when Covid landed. I think it's a non sense fee that should have never started. It's not much but I'd rather put that in a servers pocket than the owners pocket. So do away with the BS convenience fee ! read more

Irene's - Egg white skillet with turkey and veggies - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time visiting since they've reopened, and while there is are still things to like, I definitely felt the need to drop my ratings. The Good: - The decor is great. You feel like you're in a homey diner, definitely feels farmhouse "finer" - Large portions - Quick service - Delicious breakfast potatoes - Nice variety of the menu The Not as Good: Unfortunately, it seems like some of my concerns from three years ago remain. While the crispy garlic on my eggs was delicious, there was absolutely no flavor to the eggs. The potatoes were cooked and seasoned great, but the eggs seemed to be done without any salt or pepper, vert bland. Similarly, my wife's benedict lacked flavor in the runny egg whites (not a great texture), but the lemon in the hollandaise was overpowering to the point where she had to tap out. Also, some have mentioned burnt bread and...yea, that happened to me too. The outer crust of the bread was close to the black, though the inside was perfect. I really don't understand this, but it seems to be an issue. Lastly, while I spent time in the service industry and am a very generous tipper, I do get why people seem to have a huge problem with the mandatory 20% tip, and then being asked to potentially add on top. Look, they do tell you ahead of time, and in our silly restaurant culture I usually do tip at least 20%, but I'm not sure it should be mandatory. It's obviously a turn off, as must be some of the other issues, as there were only two other tables occupied when we sat down for Friday brunch. I was really rooting for this place both before and after the fire, but I unfortunately don't think I'll be back. read more

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MANDATORY 20% TIP NOT MENTIONED ON MENU. This used to be my place to take people when I wanted to impress them. Used to be fresh food, friendly service, decent prices. This time, the food was unremarkable, I paid $5 for a diner coffee that was never offered a refill, the homemade jam was watered down, and there was an unbelievable 20% mandatory gratuity even though we were a family of 4. AND they had the gaul to ask for an additional tip! How on earth is diner breakfast $100? This sense of entitlement is such a turnoff. Not even an offer to refill coffee? I used to be a regular, but I'm never coming back here again. read more

Ordered Eggs Benedict w/Spinach and Mushrooms. Half of the plate was potatoes. Eggs were undercooked. Spinach amd Mushrooms were sparce. Additionally, my bill was "automatically" charged an additional 20% "service fee" to "help cover benefits for employees." A memorable experience - but not for the food!! read more

We were glad to see Irene's reopen after the fire. This was our 2nd visit. The first since reopening. Our food was underwhelming. We had the shakshuka and the biscuits and gravy. The toast was burned all along the top crust & inedible. This bread was to sop up the sauce my 2 poached eggs were in. The biscuits had a hard outer crust and the gravy an unusual color similar to dijon mustard. It looked odd but tasted pretty good. Our coffee was just barely warm. Service was fine with no issues. In the end, our breakfast came to nearly $58 which included an automatic 20% gratuity. 2 hours later after my 2 eggs in tomato sauce (albeit tasty) and a slice of toast, I was starving. We will not be back. It's too bad because Irene's is literally down the street from me and I love a good breakfast. The rave reviews baffle us. We were as underwhelmed as our first try before the reopening. Disappointing & pricey. read more

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The waiter was very pleasant and attentive. He did take a while to come but it was very busy. The atmosphere resembled any other diner, there wasn't anything particularly special about it. The smoked salmon Benedict was very good and the peach tea really made it a pleasant meal. read more

Irene's - Smoked Salmon Benedict - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I enjoyed our brunch experience at Irene's. We had a group of 5 so I'm appreciative that they're on Open Table to allow reservations. I was able to park in a paid spot right in front of the restaurant; couldn't be easier. Service was good and all the food that came out looked really good. I enjoyed my turkey sausage skillet. The flavors were good and not something I can get everywhere by any means. read more

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Came here for brunch for the first time with two of my girlfriends a couple weekends ago, and Irene's did not disappoint!! We weren't sure if they had alcohol as an option since it seemed mostly like a diner, but we were happily surprised with the drink options! We ended up getting the 'mimosa for the table' which came with a bottle of bubbles, orange juice and grapefruit juice. Our other friend ordered an espresso martini and an irish coffee. To eat, we split the Basket of Breads and Spreads, and we loved the jams that came with it! I'm not a bagel fan but I did like the banana bread and biscuit! To eat, I had the avocado toast, and one of my friends had the ham n' cheese croissant. I always am a sucker for homemade hot sauce with my breakfast food, and really enjoyed the one that Irene's offered. We loved the food! Our waitress was SO amazing too, I wish we grabbed her name! So attentive, friendly, we could have chatted with her all day! So glad we decided to check out Irene's, we will definitely be back! :) read more

Irene's - Mimosa for the table plus an espresso martini- so good! - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is the best iteration of breakfast joint that has been in this location. The breakfast sausages are homemade and amazing, the food is fantastic, the jam was outstanding. The service was friendly and fantastic, and our coffees were always full. They have a lovely stroller parking area and, generally I can't wait to go back. You should go too. read more

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Came here on a Saturday morning around 8:30 and there was plenty of seating available. I ordered the carrot cake pancakes and my husband ordered the chorizo skillet with the multigrain sourdough. Gotta have that sweet/savory balance! Both were delicious! The pancakes were still warm, had a good amount of carrots, and surprisingly didn't taste overly sweet. The skillet felt hearty, not greasy like other chorizos I've had. And I appreciate that they put a half of a whole avocado. My only qualm with the food overall is how they cook the eggs. The whites of their poached eggs seemed raw so definitely ask for medium poached. Overall, I love the modern diner feel. The service was great. And the food was tasty. Definitely will be back to try other menu items! read more

Irene's - Carrot Cake Pancakes - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time at Irene's and I will be back! Ordered the chorizo skillet, the chorizo is made in house and it's super tasty! The half of an avocado stole my heart and it was ripe! The skillet was a perfect size and the meat to potato ratio was perfect. I hate skillets that have more potato than the meat. Same goes for the meat lovers skillet, lots of meat and right amount of potatoes. Ordered the homemade sourdough bread with my skillet as there's big loaves at the front and it looks tasty! However these two pieces were suuuper toasty and cut up my gums. Not sure if the bread was out for too long and then toasted that made it hard but it was fun to dip. I just ate the center with the fresh raspberry jam, that fresh ham was amazing! Ordered a key lime pie to tie up our brunch. The pie is from bang bang pies and it's the best!! read more

Irene's - Slice Key Lime - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Super cute and cozy brunch spot! The interior was gorgeous and modern, really makes you want to spend all day there. They weren't super busy on a Saturday either. Their menu was a little more complex and elevated than your typical diner brunch spot with little twists here and there on classic items. We shared the Short Ribs Grilled Cheese and the Turkey Skillet between two people. I liked the Skillet alright, full of ground turkey that paired well with sweet potatoes and their maple sauce served with a side of the homemade wheat sourdough. A little sweet, a little salty. Made for a very hearty and nourishing dish. The Grilled Cheese, on the other hand, was a miss. The short rib itself was very tender and flavorful. However, they used thick slices of bread that were toasted very well so that was a bit of a miss opportunity. We felt like the dish would be much better made into a panini. The fries were crispy but a tad too salty as well. I think overall we went in really wanting to love this place but the food was rather lackluster, making the whole experience a little forgettable. The dishes all sound very promising; the ideas are there. The place definitely have potential to be a hit, with some adjustment on the execution of the dishes. read more

Irene's - Turkey Sausage Skillet - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really wanted to like this place but...the food was disappointing. I'll start off with the strengths - good service. We never ran out of water and it didn't take someone long to take our order. The ambiance is cute. It's definitely what they say, a nicer diner. The booths are comfy and the plates they serve the dishes on are adorable. The food...was solidly just ok. I had the carrot cake pancakes and I couldn't taste the nutmeg. The pancake was nice and fluffy and I did like the shredded carrot in them but I found the sunflower seeds on top just overpowered everything and the flavor combo did not work for me. So all in all, they just taste like shredded carrot pancakes with cream cheese on them along with sunflower seeds. It was missing the cake part of the carrot cake taste. My partner had the ham and cheese croissant. He got it with potatoes. I'll definitely say I stole some of his potatoes and they were delicious, but he said the ham and cheese croissant was just too much. It was nothing spectacular and was trying to be too many things it wasn't. On the upside, it is a lot of food if you're going for quantity over quality... read more

Irene's - Ham n Cheese Croissant - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One fatal flaw made this promising waffle a slog to get through. I ordered the Mascarpone Waffle: a waffle that has mascarpone baked into the batter, a drizzle of Nutella, and topped with an orange peel. I must say that the presentation of the dish was superb and hyped me up for what I thought would be a delicious breakfast. Unfortunately, this lacked key aspects that make waffles so enjoyable: being light and fluffy. Instead, the consistency is way more dense and heavy on the stomach, which is not usually a feeling I chase after for breakfast, at least not ever in my waffles. The flavor profile was interesting and definitely a lot more refined-- not something that everyone will be into, but not offensive nor amazing. I think had the breading itself been lighter and airier, the flavors would've popped much more due to their already strong presence. Irene's is a cute location, though probably something you'll typically come to expect for brunch spots. It has a cozy vibe that encourages you to stay long and stay comfortably. For a Saturday it wasn't very busy either, so the service staff were decently attentive. All in all, this is not a location I would come back to due to the lackluster food (of which my group all did not have that good of an experience). Go back to the drawing board with this particular dish and you potentially have a winner on your hands. read more

Irene's - Mascarpone Waffle - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a chance to try this place with family and friends as a large party on a Saturday morning. The service was top notch and the food was good. I had a Denver omelette with potatoes and a pancake, and some fresh squeezed OJ. Wasn't a fan of the potatoes, but others at the table were. The omelette was hardy and full of the typical ingredients you'd expect. The pancake was tasty, especially when paired with true maple syrup. Pricing was decent, but not cheap. Overall a decent place and experience. read more

Irene's - Denver Omelette - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been kind of fluctuating on brunch as I've gotten older. In my early 20s I was all about it, but as the years have gone on my favorite places have either gone down in quality (what happened Meli cafe??) or disappeared, and everything's been melding together and it's hard for me to differentiate one spot from the next. Irene still manages to break the mold, even with their comparatively smaller menu thanks to their quality and service. Their ham and cheese croissant is one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city IMO - the sharp cheddar and slight sweetness of the honey baked ham work wonders together. Their chicken and waffle also comes out nicely crunchy and crispy. Also be sure to check out their specialty jams - their strawberry basil is a nice mix of sweetness and brightness. Service is pleasant and unsurprisingly family friendly - our toddler loves their kid's French toast. Prepare for a wait when coming here for brunch, but it's well worth it. read more

I ordered the Biscuits & Gravy as I did the first time I was there it was good as expected but my friend's waffle although good was a little overpriced if you ask me $13.00 for one waffle, with a dollop of Mascarpone cream cheese. My entree was $15.00 for biscuits & gravy and two eggs, I can't understand how they came up with that figure. I realized the price is on the menu but I didn't see the amount until I got the bill. The service and the coffee were great. read more

I am obsessed with this spot! Between the amazing service, adorable serving plates and homemade bread this spot is a definite gem! You go in and know it's a great spot because the line and just overall environment. Not to mention the amazing smells you get experience as soon as you walk inside. read more

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"Left a lot to be desired" is a good way to describe it, as other reviewers have said. To start, they don't have flavored creamers for coffee. Kind of a bummer but I know not everyone offers these. At $4 per cup the coffee wasn't anything special and not worth it. The food took way too long considering how not busy the restaurant was. Was disappointed they don't offer hashbrowns, just potatoes. They also don't offer a side of pancakes or a short stack (at least not that I saw on the menu). Ordered the meat lovers skillet without ham - My bacon was completely UNcooked, I took it all out of my skillet and the server didn't even ask about it. It was so uncooked I thought it was ham at first glance. The toast was served cold so butter didn't melt into it. Honestly 0/10 for the food. Last - spent $50 for 2 people to have breakfast. Way too expensive. Also usually breakfast places have big portions but this spot did not, especially considering the cost this was - again - a disappointment. Ambiance was awkward at best. The tables felt tight but are bolted to the wall so they can't be moved. Music was so quiet I could hear conversations of all the tables and it was uncomfortable. Had high hopes for this new neighborhood joint but will not be returning. Shocked at the positive reviews overall. read more

I've lived in Chicago for 5 years and i'm so mad I didn't go to this place sooner!! Went for brunch on a Saturday around 1:30 and was sat immediately in a cozy booth by the window. Our waiter was so helpful and gave us his recs (breakfast burrito, pancake). We ended up ordering the turkey sausage scramble, breakfast burrito and a side pancake. All of which are now some of my favorites in the city. This place may look unassuming on the outside but don't sleep on it. Can't wait to go back and devour a pancake. read more

Irene's - Buttermilk Pancakes - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've wanted to try this place forever but there's always such a long wait and so it hasn't happened....UNTIL TODAY, because I wised up and made a reservation. My table was seated within five minutes, much to the dismay of everyone else who was standing around waiting because they did NOT have reservations. Service was great (thanks Zach!). Food was very good overall. I had the ham and cheese croissant sandwich and it was good but not great, honestly: both the bread and the ham were a bit tough. The breakfast potatoes were very good. I also had half a pancake and oh my goodness, in all seriousness it was one of the best pancakes I have ever had (and I have consumed many, MANY pancakes in my lifetime). Seriously, I would have given Irene's a four-star review if not for that pancake, which is five stars all the way. Also, the fresh-squeezed orange juice was great too, and the price was a great value. I will freaking dream about that pancake tonight though. Mmm!!! read more

Irene's - Ham and cheese croissant sandwich - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok, we have a favorite breakfast place in Chicago. A place where both my wife ( who has a lot of food allergies) and I can eat. She had the skillet with turkey sausage, two eggs, sweet potato, green pepper and a maple balsamic glaze Accompanied by gluten free bread and washed it down with fresh squeezed OJ. I went with the short rib Benedict . I asked the waiter if that was good and he said "ooof". It was ooof and then some. Wow. Braised short rib with a uniquely poached egg ( organic eggs - orange yolk). Hollandaise sauce not overbearing and more of an accompaniment . Hash browns crispy AND fluffy. Just an outstanding place read more

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Great service, great value, and even better food! Stopped by for a late brunch and was expecting a good time but I was pleasantly surprised that it was am even more pleasant experience than expected. Their menu is extensive from soups and salads to a slagel farm burger and of course all the breakfast staples. We tried the herbal teas, meat lover skillet and pie from bang bang all of which were delicious. Will be back to try the bang bang biscuits or the carrot cake pancakes! The tea was really high quality with lively presentation in individual pots. The skillet was hearty without being greasy with lovely hormone and antibiotic free slagel farms eggs ham bacon and sausage. Even the complimentary toast and jams exceeded expectations with what tasted like homemade peach jam. read more

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$6.50 for tea and 50 cents for jam is too much. Plus it smelled like bacon grease. Food was overpriced for what we got. Drove by yesterday and windows are boarded up and a dumpster is in front. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! The food was absolutely delicious! Their team delivered great service and food! Will definitely be back! Side note - their house made sausage was spectacular. read more

Irene's - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

wandered in to the space and the music was a little to loud for my taste, was tinny and had to wear headphones to manage. maybe it's just me but it seemed out of character. food was okay, not going to not go back service a little slow but it was mid week read more

A lovely and cozy diner that serves up delicious home made food. Many items are made fresh in house and affordable for the quality. Service is friendly and it's always consistent. I've only eaten there for breakfast and they do take reservations. If you don't have one, the wait time isn't all that long! read more

Irene's - Athens Omelette (removed onion for green pepper, added turkey sausage and scrambled) - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was our very last meal before leaving Chicago to head back home to Denver and man am I glad we went. I loved it so much and am so sad we don't have this elevated diner in Denver. Service was top notch, food was amazing and vibes were perfect. I got the biscuits and gravy and loved it! My son got an order of the biggest fluffiest pancakes and they were great as well. I'll definitely be back any time I'm in Chicago. read more

Irene's - An amazing plate of Biscuits and Gravy - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always Top Notch! As a big fan of breakfast I love when I can find new regular joints to frequent. Irene's is just the ticket! I've been a number of times now to be disappointed. Service is friendly, fast attentive. Food is really good and most important, the coffee is too I've tried short, ribs hash and loved it. Also the carrot cake pancakes are insane though perhaps a bit more like dessert than breakfast... not that I'm complaining. I have only ever gone on weekdays and early in the morning so getting seated has never been a problem but I imagine it's crowded on weekends read more

Diner food but more refined. I love all the natural light and plants. We ended up getting the short rib Benedict and chicken and waffle. Both were really good- the waffle was big and fluffy while the chicken added a nice crunch nice salty finish. I can't wait to come back to try lunch! read more

We've been to Irene's three times now and the only negative is that it's not waking distance from us! We've ordered something different each time and have been happy with all of them--really enjoyed the biscuits and gravy as well as the chorizo skillet. Coffee is good and cup is always filled! Also really kid friendly--they make sure our kiddo gets his food immediately which helps everyone! read more

YOU WILL LOVE! the perfect local diner, amazing fresh food, beautiful array of options! get one of everything you will not regret! read more

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Irene's recently opened in North Center along Irving Park near Damen/Lincoln. The skillets and Benedict's are great. The menu also features and "upgrade" to any meal for $8 which includes a drink (tea, coffee, soda, etc) with a slice of pie from Bang Bang Pies. We dined in the afternoon on a Sunday and were seated and served promptly by their friendly staff. read more

Quaint eatery with friendly staff. Nice selection of menu items. I like that they are environmentally conscious. I have enjoyed several of their breakfast items and thought all were good, but my favorite was the Denver omelette. read more

Super cute diner right in Irving. It has an old world diner feel with the booths but is very clean and modern feeling. Staff was extremely friendly. My daughter wanted chocolate chips added to get pancakes and they were able to accommodate. We also ordered chicken and waffles and my husband had a veggie burger without cheese to make it vegan. The burger was fine but not amazing. I had an oat milk latte which was delicious. Would go back read more

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Very nice diner. Have had a hit with the short rib hash and bacon and been there before for some just fine but not amazing meals

The pancakes look nice but we're a little tough. I need to drown them and butter and syrup to be able to cut them properly. The ham given to me that came with that as a side had a smudge of guacamole underneath it as if it was on another customers plate and given back to me so I can eat it. I had to constantly ask for a top off from my coffee, rather than have the waitress come and asked me if I needed anything. Your offbrand soda is terrible. I can try it if I didn't like it it would be no big deal. I did not like it, but was still charged for it. The hamburger was a bit dry and I was never asked how I would like it cooked. The portion size of the fries were very small and comparable to a small fries at McDonald's and the kids menu. read more

First timer at Irene's Walking in I noticed it was clean and bright. Just what you want in your breakfast place. I didn't realize I was in a high end Steakhouse until I looked at the menu. Everything was ala carte. How many slices of Bacon do you want with your eggs? I guess I should be happy with that sort of customization. Food was fine, service was okay, pricing was tough to swallow. $50 for 2 for basic breakfast with coffee is a little crazy even in these inflationary times. I can't crush a place just over price but be ready to open your purse or wallet read more

Walked in on 1:30PM on a sunday afternoon and it was PACKED! Almost every table was sat. Good for them!! Since we were a table of 2 we were able to be seated after a less than 5 minute wait. The carrot cake pancakes were great! Not overly sweet. The brisket grilled cheese was delicious as well. I'm excited to have this spot in the neighborhood. I look forward to future visits read more

Irene's - Carrot Cake Pancakes - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lovely weekday morning brunch after daycare drop off-- super chill but not awkward. I would definitely reorder the MEAT LOVERS SKILLET with rye and house made jam; very high quality meat and cheese, beautifully crisped potatoes. House made hot sauce at the table was a delight. The CARROT CAKE PANCAKES were gorgeous and huge, but I found the spicing a bit heavy and the pancakes themselves slightly too moist and dense. I look forward to trying other dishes. read more